03.02.2011

Life Grand Challenges Contest Expanded

The Life Grand Challenges Contest, initially introduced in December 2010, is expanding to include a fourth challenge, this was announced by Life Technologies. This latest contest challenges scientists to sequence the genome and all RNA content derived from a single cancer cell using the 5500 Series SOLiD Sequencers. more03.02.2011

Imaging an Intact Virus

Imaging an Intact Virus - They are entirely too small to be seen even with the most powerful microscope. But now an international research team has managed to capture an image of an intact virus and a membrane structure from a photosynthetic bacterium with the aid of extremely intensive and ultra-short x-ray pulses from the world's first free electron laser. This new advance in structural biology is being published in two articles in the journal Nature. more25.01.2011

Series D Financing Round Closed

Series D financing round of $ 37.5 million was closed by RainDance Technologies, a specialist for microdroplet-based solutions for single molecule and single cell analysis. The financing was co-led by new investor Quaker BioVentures and existing investor Mohr Davidow Ventures. Existing investors Alloy Ventures and Acadia Woods also participated in the financing round. Sherrill Neff from Quaker BioVentures and Jeffrey Samberg from Acadia Woods will join the RainDance Board of Directors. more17.01.2011

Automated, But Still Simple and Affordable

A high-performance flow cytometer simplified, the Accuri C6 Flow Cytometer System features two lasers, two light scatter and four fluorescence channels. Priced comparable to a fluorescent plate reader and with lifetime ownership costs one-tenth of the market leader, the C6 fits virtually every laboratory's budget. The compact, portable instrument has no special set-up requirements, is so simple a dedicated operator is not necessary and can accommodate large assay runs with the optional, automated CSampler. more20.12.2010

Merck KGaA and sanofi-aventis

Merck KGaA announced that it has signed a worldwide research and development agreement with sanofi-aventis U.S., under which its division Merck Serono and sanofi-aventis U.S. will collaboratively investigate novel experimental combinations of agents that could block specific pathways in cancer cells. This collaboration could deliver novel targeted oncology treatments with high therapeutic potential. more16.12.2010

Nano-needles or Cellular Endoscope

Artist renderings of a nano-needle poking a single cell have become the symbol of nanotechnology, surfacing on covers of magazines and books for about a decade but actual nano-needles able to interrogate small cells without causing cellular damage have not become reality until recently. A Drexel University team of engineers, scientists and biologists have developed a carbon nanotube-based device for probing single living cells without damaging them. This technique will allow experts to identify diseases in their early stage and advance drug discovery. The research led by Dr. more15.12.2010

On-line Oxygen Monitoring in Cell Culture

Real-time measurements of oxygen and pH in mammalian cell cultures are important to understand the metabolic dynamics in cell cultures. The observation of the time course of cellular oxygen consumption in response to environmental conditions or toxicological insults can be substantial for successful culture of mammalian cells. This type of monitoring could also be valuable for other applications such as tissue engineering and stem cell research. more23.10.2010

Workstation Automates Antibody Cocktail Preparation

The Beckman Coulter Antibody Cocktail Preparation workstation automatically combines antibodies and staining dyes from individual vials into tubes or vials staged on the company’s Biomek NXp deck. Automating the multi-colour flow cytometry analysis preparation process eliminates costly errors associated with manual preparation and improves efficiency. Complex multi-reagent, multi-panel antibody staining cocktails are prepared with precision and accuracy. more19.10.2010

Symposium on Cell Factories of the Future

Rentschler Biotechnologie launched the first "Laupheimer Zelltage" with a symposium on "Cell Factories of the Future". Henceforth, the conference will take place every two years. The event took place on October 14 and15 at the facilities of Rentschler Biotechnologie in Laupheim, Germany and was supported by the biotech cluster BioRegion Ulm and the Industry and Commerce (IHK) of Ulm. more01.10.2010

Cryopreservation

From ice-free cooling to convenient portability of cell samples and a controlled rate of freezing without alcohol, BioCision's modular CryoPrep System based on thermo-adaptive alloy, makes cell preservation simple, efficient and highly reproducible. The system comprises three products - CoolBox, CoolRack CFT and CoolCell - If one need to freeze or cryopreserve PBMCs, primary cells, stem cells or cord blood, the system makes cell preservation simple, efficient and highly reproducible. more